Paper converting machine



D. M. FEURT PAPER CONVERTING MACHINE Sept. 16, 1941.

Filed Feb. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. DONALD M. FEL/RT A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 16, 1941.` D. M. FEURT 2,256,082

PAPER CONVERTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1940 2 SheetS-Sheeb 2 f BY "' 36 c@ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1.941

UNITED STATES] PATENT OFFICE PAPER coNvEa'rlNG MACHINE "Donald M. Feurt, San Francisco, Calif., assigner to Consolidated Cover Co.,

San Francisco,

Calif., a corporation of California A Application February 12,1940,v Serial No. 318,471

15 claims. Cl. 242-56)- My invention relates tor paper converting machines, and more particularly to machines which die-cut'and re-wind predetermined amounts of paper on individual rolls, from a parent roll. The machine of my invention is especially de'- sirable for high speed operation on light weight paper.

Among the objects of my invention are: To provide a paper converting machine capable of operating at high speed on light weight paper; to

provide a paper converting machine operating with a minimum loss of time due to breaking of thin stock; to provide a paper converting machine having a unique separation of re-woundY rolls; to provide a means and method of separating individual rolls from a connected line of paper having cut-E bonds; to provide, in a paper converting machine, a means and method of readily changing the dimension of the cut-off bonds; to provide a paper converting machine having a coordinated braking system; to provide a paper converting machine having an electrical paper control on the output thereof; and to provide a paper converting machinecapable of' handling thin paper stock at high speeds.

My invention possesses numerous other objects and features of advantage, some of which, to- 4gether with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of specific apparatus embodying and utilizing my novel method. It is therefore to be understood that my method is applicable to other apparatus, and that 'I do not limit myself, in any way, to the apparatus of the present application, as I may adopt various other apparatus embodiments, utilizing the method, within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side View in elevation of a paper converting machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of the' device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the male die 'roll'l friction drive which may be used to rotate cores during rewinding.

In the converting of paper froma large uncut parent roll to individual rolls of definite length, when the paper is partially cut to form transverse cuts with bonds left therebetween, high ,speed operation is 'greatly desired in order that commercial production may be feasible.

Much of thepaper used, for example, for thin paper towels or the even thinner toilet seat covers, is so thin that high speed operation requires complete coordination of forces and exact attention to details which will at all times .tend to'preventrv a. few very weak break-off bonds, also requires' that the path of the paper from the die rolls to the re-winding rolls shall be properly coordinated to prevent unwanted breakage during the re-winding operation.

My invention is broadly concerned withv the coordination of forces and the positioning of structures so that thin paper such as, for example, an uncalendered, twelve pound, semi-crepe paper from two to three thousandths of an inch thick, can be die-cut to leave break-off bonds thereinand re-wound upon individual rolls at thev rate, for example, of eleven hundred and twenty five feet per minute, with an output production of two hundred individual rolls'per hour. The stopping and starting of the machine for each individual roll must be so controlled that. no unwanted breakages occur, and so that after release of one individual roll from the paper line the paper will remain in a position to be attached to the next individual roll.

It is believed vthat the advantages and details of my invention may be more fully understood by direct reference to the drawings, which show one manner in which my invention has been adapted to machines of commercial speed and productivity.

Referring to Figs, 1 and 2 fol` the general setup of the machine, a pair of upright frame members I position a female die roll 2 in proper bearof the female die roll are positioned an output felt roll 6 Aand an input felt roll 1. Male die roll 5 and felt rolls 6 and 1 are driven from the described later.

operations other than that accomplished by the cut-oi! knife I6 are to be performed on the infemale die roll by' gears 9. lFelt rolls 6 and1, however, rotate in bearing blocks I slioablein recesses II in frame members I and are forced against the femalev die roll 2 by springs I2, the

tension of which may be adjusted by knobs la..

These springs prevent damage in paper Jams, and also.prevent crushing of the operators iingers if they should get caught. i Female die roll 2 is provided with a cut-off knife cavity I5 into which enters a composite cut-oil knife I6, to be Obviously, if other die-cutting dividual lengths v oi?v paper, such dies may be mounted on thev male die roll and corresponding depressions made in the female die roll 2. Such additionalcuts are made, for example, in die-cutting toilet seat covers.

Qn the back of the frame members is mounted a parent roll shaft 29 carrying a parent paper roll 2l which is wound with a continuous length of paper, as is customary in the art. 'I'he paper is led from the parent roll around a dancing roll 22 swinging on a vertically extending arm 23 pivoted to the lower portion of the frame. Danc-` ing roll 22 is held in forward position by a weight 24 connected to the dancing roll by cord 25, the cord 25 being of such length that when the slack in the 'paper passing around dancing roll' 22 is completely taken up, spring 26v on *weight 24 will bear against xed spring boss 21 so that the paper will always have the weight tension thereon and at the minimum loop size will have in ad dition, greater tension due to spring 26. The paper then passes over a guide roll 30 and between felt roll 1 and female die roll 2. The paperl is ,then carried around die roll 2 and between felt roll 6 and the female die roll 2, and from there onto delivery plate 3I. 'I'his delivery plate and the function thereof will be explained later.

'45, a parent roll brake 46 and a female die roll brake 41. I also prefer to provide each brake with adjustment screws 49. Tension on parent roll brake 46 may also be adjusted by hand wheel 50 through spring '5I so that the braking power on vthe rolls may be occasionally readjusted during the change yin size of the parent roll; Obviously, such an adjustment could be made automatic in accordance with the size of the parent roll, but I have found that such coordination is not at all Vnecessary to the high speed opera- On the front of the machine is mounted a ro,

tatingre-wind chuck carrier 32 carrying three re-wind chucks so that the individual roll cores may be mounted thereon and rotated one atfa time to receive the paper coming out of the machine. The chuck carrier is rotatable on roll carrier bracket 34 so that one chuck with roll core 35 therein, at a, time, will be in a position to receive paper from the die rolls. The next chuck 36 will carry a core moistened by contact with moistening roll 31 dipping into a source of liquid 38, and the third chuck 39 will be in a position for the operator to insert a core therein after he has removed a full re-wound individualy roll therefrom. I prefer to friction-drive the f Vindividual roll chuck carrying the core then receiving paper from the machine, this drive being relatively light and being overfdriven to wind the paper thereon at both empty and full conditions without slack. y

Such a friction drive is shown in Fig. 8. yCarrier bracket 34 on one side of the machine is provided with a bearing 99 which journals a fric- -tion drive shaft 9|. The inner end of shaft 6I carries a friction wheel 82 engaged by a chuck wheel 93 driving chuck 39 on which the rolls are mounted, when each core reaches rewind position. Shaft 8| may be driven by belt 94 from any convenient shaft on the machine,` the speed of rotation of shaft 8| being s et to cause overdrive ofthe rotating core. Wheels 82 and 93 are preferably faced with a resilient material and driving pressure adjusted to permit lslip as rewinding proceeds. 'l

l While many paper converting ,machines utilize tion of the device, due to the eicient operation vof the dancing roll 22.

The details of a preferred form of cut-olf knife are shown in Fig. 3. I -have found that more emcient cut-ofi' isobtained by placing the cutoil knife at a slight angle across the male die roll, thus giving a shearing action of the knife to the paper. Inasmuch as the cuts made by the cut-oifknife are not intended to Acompletely sever the paper, vbut are designed to `leave bonds across the paper so that the paper may be readily separated into units, the usual procedure is to form the cut-olf knife of a single piece, with interruptions to give uncut bonds, preferably adjustably attached to the male die roll. 'I have found, however, that in spite of the eiiiciency .of modern paper making machinery, that paper as suppliedv in the parent rolls from paper manufacturers will vary slightly in thickness and strength in different rolls and in diierent lots.

able to 'quickly andv accurately change the size of the bonds left between the individual paper units. I have accomplished this by making the cut-ofi knife I6 in two halves, a front half I6a and a rear half I 6b. Front half I6a is provided with a single bevel 60 and top teeth 6I, and is fastened directly to the side of/knife cavity 62 in they parent roll by screws 64. Rear half I6b of the knife is also provided with a. single bevel 65 and top teeth 66, but is mounted on a knife block 61 slidable inrecess 62 and held therein by set screws 69. Both half knife I6a and I6b are provided with teeth interruptions or bond notches 19 preferably of the same width, and when these notches are`registered the widest bond is obtained. If, however, the knife half I6b is moved laterally with respect to front half I6a, then the bond becomes effectively narrower due to the advance of one edge of knife Iibl toward.the other edge of knife I6a as shown in Fig. 5 by offset 1I, the single projecting edge cutting the paper. Thus, I am able to very quickly change the bond dimension in accordance with the type. of paper being handled by the machine, a procedure which is impossible -with the older type 4of single knife customarily used for cut-off.

I have also found that the paper, afterI the cut-off bonds have been formed, may be controlled electrically to prevent one of the greatest disadvantages ofV a converting machine, namely,

the loss of control of the paper end after the I thereforerhave found it highly advantageous to be off-of the full re-wound rolls.

v 2,256,682 l l .individual rolls have been separated therefrom.' the individual paper unit 3|.'

For example, it is quite a frequent occurrence to have the output felt roller 5 become electried to such an extent that the paper will-stick to it, and upon starting of the machine the paper will wrap around roller 5 and cause a .1am which takes time to clear. This is a frequent occur- 'rence even when a special outputroller isutilizd to direct the paper onto the individual rolls, asthe paper end is not securely held after break- I retain full control of the free paper end by y providing delivery plate 3|, which preferably is shaped to have a dual angle, namely, an input angle 16 tangent to the periphery of a lled core on which the paper immediatelyh leaving felt rollr 5 always lbears as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and an output angle 11 which is an angle tangent to the periphery of the core which directs the paper onto the unfilled core 35 as shown in Fi .7.

'he friction of the paper passing rapidly over delivery plate 3|, electrostatlcally charges the A `paper4 so that when the lled core is removed,

the free end of the paper sticks tightly to the plate 3| thus preventing slack between plate 3| l and roller 6.

be assumed that the empty core 35 presented to the end of the paper has been wet by previous contact with the moisteningroller 31. The end of the thin paper is then wrapped around the empty core 35 and sticks thereto. 'I'he operator of the machine then depresses clutch pedal I .which simultaneously engages the clutch connecting the motor with the female die roll and eases oi the brakes on both the female die roll and the parent roll. The paper is then wound through the machine lat an increasing speed and the inertia of the parent roll 2.| is'absorbed by the change in position of the dancing roll under control of weight 24 and spring 26 until the machine is running at its full speed, such as, for example, eleven hundred andtwenty five feet of paper per minute. i

As the cut-olf knife I6 makes each revolution, cuts joined by bonds are made between each individual paper unit, the length of the unit of course being controlled by the diameter of the die rolls. After a predetermined number of units have been wound upon empty roll 38 the machine is either tripped automatically as heretofore described, or directly by the operator who can determine the number of units by watching a counter, and the operator then stops the machine by releasing the clutch pedal. The ystopping is ofcourse accomplished quickly by the coordinate release of the clutch and application lof brakes on both parent roll and die roll, and

the nal stopping position is controlled by the operator so that a cut is preferably on the periphery of the lled'individual roll. 'I'his posi'- tion is shown in Fig. 6, and it will be noticed that when the machine isv stopped in this position that the next cut 30 has been made prior to the entrance of the paper between output felt roll 6 and female die roll 2, thus tightly gripping chuck carrier 32 is tlen rotated to bring a fresh -j core 35 into place and the full-roll into position yas indicated by re-wind chuck 33, where it may be taken out and a new roll substituted-as the core 35 is being filled. i

A most important feature, however, of the operation of the delivery plate 3 I is that fric- ,tion of the paper in running over this plate highly electrifies the paper so that when full re-,wound roll 15 is rotated out of the way and `the fresh core 35 rotated into place, the latter vbeing moistened, the paper is strongly attracted to angular portion 11 which moves the end of the paper into contact with moistened core 35,'where the paper immediately sticks, ready for the next re-winding operation of the machine.

A still further advantage, however, is gained by the electrification of the paper on plate 3|, and that is that the paper sticks tightly at all times to angular portion 11 and thus any slack is prevented from occurring between plate 3| and felt roller 5 during the time that the paper is free while rolls are being changed. 'I'his grip- 'ping of the paper by plate 3| prevents pile-up the paper, even against drafts, onto the unfilled core 35.

While I have described the break-oir operationat point 82 on the full roll 15 as being accomplished by handi, it is obvious that the slight additional movement necessary may be supplied by an additional source of power frictionally applied to the re-wind chuck after the machine has reached its stop, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to vhand rotation alone. Hand operation is, however, highly satisfactory because the operator is at that time grasping the full roll to move it out of the'way and to substitute the new one for it, and the break-off twist to the roll may be given at the beginning of this grasping movement without loss of time. \g

I have also found that A I may control the amount of electrilcation of the paper by varying the material of which delivery-plate 3| is made. I have, for example, found that if the electrification in certain periods of the year, due to atmospheric conditions, becomes so high as to apply an appreciable drag on the paper during the rewinding operation,'that I may utilize, for example, a zinc plate and obtain a lesser amount of electriflcation. I have found, however, lthat polished steel plates are in general highly satisfactory.l Thus,'I have provided a paper converter which is capable of extreme high speed without the usual vtendencies to jam paper around output rollers, and in which a special knife has been provided whichl will allow the cut-off bonds to be varied in' accordance with the requirements of the paper being handled.

denim: a'

1. A paper converting machine comprisingn male and female die rolls, an interrupted cut-off Lknife lon said male die roll, an output felt roll resiliently held against said female die roll, a re-wind roll, a parent roll for feeding an uncut paper strip between said die rolls under said felt roll and onto said re-wind roll, and a delivery:`

plate between said re-wind roll and said felt roll,

p said delivery plate having a planar surface in contact with said paper strip at: all stages of rewinding.

2. A vpaper converting machine comprising male and female die rolls, an interrupted cut-oif knife on said male die roll, an output felt roll resiliently held against said female die roll, a i rewind roll, a parent roll for feeding an uncut i paper strip between'said die-rolls under said felt roll and onto said re-wind roll, a delivery plate between said re-wind roli and said felt roll, said delivery plate having a planarl surface in contact with said paper strip at all stagesof re-winding, and an additional planar surface at an angle ,to

said first surface tangent to the periphery of an 1 -unnned re-wlnd ron. 1

3. A paper converting machine comprising 1 male and female die rolls, an interrupted cut-off 1 knife on said male die roll, an output felt roll 1 resiliently held againstvsaid female die roll, a rei wind roll, a parent roll for feedingan uncut 1 paper strip between said die rolls under said felt roll and onto said re-wind roll, and a delivery plate between said re-wind roll and said felt roll, said delivery plate havinga planar surface i tangent to the periphery of a filled re-wind roll.

4. A paper converting machine comprising male and female die rolls, an interrupted cut-off knife on said male die roll, an output felt roll I resiliently held against said female die roll, a rewind roll, a parent roll for feeding an uncut paper strip between said die rolls under said felt roll' and onto-said re-wind roll, and a delivery A plate between said re-wind roll and said felt roll,

said delivery plate having a planar surface tangent to the periphery df a lled re-wind roll, Iand an additional surface tangent to the periphery of an unfilled rewind roll. y

5`. A paper converting machine comprising `male and female die rolls, an interrupted cut-off y knife on'said male die roll, an output' felt roll resiliently held against said female die roll, a rewind rolll a parent roll for feeding an uncut paper strip between said die rolls under said felt roll and onto said re-wind roll, and a fiat surface in contact with said paper adjacent said re-wind "roll for electrostatically charging said paper.

6. A paper converting machine comprising lmale and female die rolls, an interrupted cut-off `knife on said male die roll, an output felt roll resiliently held against said female die roll, a re- `wind roll, a parent roll for feeding an uncut ipaper strip between said dierolls under said felt` lroll and onto said re-windA roll, said re-wind roll wind roll, a parent roll for feeding an uncutr aiasaosa paper strip between said die rolls under said feit roll and onto said re-wind roll, and means for electrostatically holding the free end of said paper adjacent said re-wind roll when a fully rewound roll is broken away from said strip.

A8. A paper converting -machine comprising male and female die rolls, an interrupted cutloff knife on said, male die roll, an output felt roll resiliently held against said female die roll,

a re-wind roll, a parent roll for feeding an uncut paper strip between said die rolls under said felt roll and onto said re-wind roll,` a delivery plate between said re-wind roll and saidl felt roll, said delivery plate having a planar surface in contact with said paper strip at all stages ofV re-winding, means for driving one of said die rolls, a brake on one of said die rolls,y a brake on said parent roll, and means for coincidentalLv operating said driving means andboth 'of said brakes.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the distancev along the paper strip from the Junction of the utput felt roll and the female die roll to the periphery of the rewind roll is less than the distance between cuts madeby said cutoff knife.

10. A paper converting machine` comprising male and female die rolls, an interrupted cutoif knife 'on saidmale die roll, an output felt roll resiliently held against said female die roll, a rewind roll, a parent roll for feeding an uncut paper strip betweensaid die rolls under said felt roll and onto said rewind roll, and a delivery plate betwee said rewind roll and said felt roll, said delivery plate having a surface contact with said paper strip at all stages of A roll is less than the distance between cuts made by said cutoff knife, and wherein the rewind roll is frictionally driven. Y i

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim l wherein the distance along the paper strip from the junction of the output felt roll and thefemale die roll to the periphery of the rewind roll is less than the distance between cuts 'made by said cutoff' knife, and wherein the rewind roll is frictionally driven and capable of independent manual rotation to break said strip at a cut made by said cut-off knife when said cut is on the periphery of a filled rewind roll.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the distance along the paper strip from the junction of the output felt roll' and the female die roll to the periphery of the rewind roll is less than the distance between cuts made byf2 said cutoff knife, and wherein the rewind roll is frictionally driven and Acapable of-independent manual rotation to break said strip at a cut made by said cutoff knife when said cut is on the periphery of a filled rewind roll, and wherein saidl delivery plate is of a material capable of electrostatically charging said paper 14. A paper converting machine comprising male and female die rolls, an interrupted cutoff knife on ixsaid male die roll, an output felt roll resiliently held 'against said female die roll, a

rewind roll, a parenty roll for feeding an Vuncut `paper strip between said die rolls under said felt aandoen l 5 roll and onto said rewind roll, and a delivery plate between said rewind roll and said felt roll, said delivery plate having a paper attracting surface contact with said paper strip at all stages of rewinding.

15. A paper converting machine comprising male and female die rolls, an-interrupted cutof! knife on said-male die'roll, an output felt roll paper strip between said die rolls under said feit roll and onto said rewind roll, and a delivery vplate between said rewind roll and said'felt roll, said delivery plate having a paper attracting surface contact with said paper strip at all stages of r'ewinding, said surface contact being sumciently paper attractive to hold the freed end of said strip afterremoval of a filled rewind roll.

DONALD M. vFEIURTf 

